SAN JOSE, Calif., March 10, 2005 -- SEMI, the global industry association of companies that supply manufacturing technology and materials to the world’s chip makers, today reported that worldwide sales of semiconductor manufacturing equipment totaled $37.08 billion in 2004, representing a year-over-year increase of 67.1 percent. The data is available in the Worldwide Semiconductor Equipment Market Statistics (SEMS) Report, now available from SEMI.

Compiled from data submitted by members of SEMI and the Semiconductor Equipment Association of Japan (SEAJ), the Worldwide SEMS Report is a summary of the monthly billings and bookings figures for the global semiconductor equipment industry. The report, which includes data for seven major semiconductor producing regions and 22 product categories, shows worldwide billings totaled $37.08 billion in 2004, compared to $22.19 billion in sales posted in 2003.

"Driven by robust spending on 300 mm equipment and spending on advanced technology in all regions, the global market for new semiconductor manufacturing equipment experienced very strong growth in 2004," said Stanley T. Myers, president and CEO of SEMI. "The results place 2004 as the second all-time greatest year for semiconductor equipment sales, behind only the exceptional year of 2000."

Japan, the largest world market grew 49 percent to about US$8.3 billion. The Taiwan market region grew the most in 2004, rising 166 percent to US$7.8 billion. The region also surpassed North America to become the second largest equipment market behind Japan. The Rest of World region, which aggregates Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, other areas of Southeast Asia and smaller global markets, grew 114 percent and the market in China increased 132 percent. Korea, which led world growth in 2003 with a 91 percent expansion in equipment spending, increased an additional 45 percent in 2004. Equipment markets in Europe and North America increased 35 percent and 23 percent respectively in 2004.

The Worldwide SEMS Report is published monthly and is available as part of the SEMI Equipment Market Data Subscription. The monthly report updates billings and bookings by world region and by industry segment. For more information about the SEMI Industry Research and Statistics program and subscription services, call SEMI Customer Service at 408.943.6901 or e-mail mktstat@semi.org.

SEMI is a global member association for companies participating in the microelectronics and display industries. SEMI maintains offices in Austin, Beijing, Brussels, Hsinchu, Moscow, San Jose (Calif.), Seoul, Shanghai, Singapore, Tokyo and Washington, D.C. For more information, visit SEMI at www.semi.org.